EVERY MIRACLE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIFT JESUS UP

“And his name [Jesus] through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”—Acts 3:16

  

Miracles were a part of the earliest days of the Church, along with fellowship, prayer, preaching, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, divine illumination and joy.  In fact, Christian history is filled with numberless accounts of miracles which people who had faith in God experienced.  Today with a flick of the wrist, in nations around the world, people are made aware of the numerous miracles that are being experienced in the lives of people who believe in God, who trust His word, and act upon His promises.  I want to encourage you that miracles are a way to share Jesus and that you can take part in the occurrence of miracles.

 

Acts 3:1-16 will inspire your faith that miracles happen in the ordinary course of life events.  Did you know that the first miracle, after Pentecost is recorded in this chapter?

 

Let’s beginning in verse 1…

 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.   ² And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;  ³Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.  ⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  ⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.  ⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  ⁷And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  ⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God:  ¹⁰ And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.  ¹¹ And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.  ¹² And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?  ¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.  ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;  ¹⁵  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.  ¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

 

These principles will help in your efforts to glorify God by lifting up Jesus.

 First, expect your life to be filled with divine appointments (vs. 1-3).  As you go about your daily routines, an opportunity to lift Jesus up can come in unexpected ways.  Peter and John were going about their daily routine, into the temple at the hour of prayer.  It was at the same time when the lame man was laid at the gate of the temple to ask alms of those who went into the temple.  Notice that this man went daily expecting to receive. 

 

Secondly, discern those around you (v. 4).  Begin to train yourself to discern, and ask the Lord for His help.  Many years ago, I was asking the Lord why I didn’t know some things about people or situations.  I was surprised by His response to me.  He said, “You see what you see and you hear what you hear; however, you are overriding your discernment with emotion and self-will.”  I was surprised by His response, but the more that I thought about the answer the more I began to understand that was exactly what I had been doing.  I repented and began to train myself to watch and listen to people and situations, also I asked the Lord to sharpen my discernment.  It wasn’t long before the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about situations and people and I could see and know things.  This knowledge was helpful in ministering to people and avoid some situations that would have had bad consequences.  Notice in our text that this lame man daily came expecting.  I think that Paul discerned that he was expecting which made the situation ripe for a miracle.

 

Thirdly, use the name of Jesus (v. 6).  Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name I will do it… (John 14:13).  This is exactly what Peter did.  Peter had been with Jesus and had heard His teaching.  He applied what he had heard his Master say, and you can too!  …just do it!!

 

Fourthly, reach down and be a part of the miracle (v. 7).  Encourage people to receive their miracle.  It is God who is at work in you to do His good will and pleasure.  It is His will to heal and restore people.  Remember that Peter was doing what he had seen Jesus do.  (Mark 9:27 “But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose”).

  

Lastly, always turn the people’s eyes to Jesus (vs. 11-12, 16).  When Jesus is lifted up, people will be drawn to Him. 

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father, I am expecting divine appointments where Your Son Jesus can be lifted up.  Lord please help me to be discerning and not to be fearful to participate in a miracle.  Today I acknowledge that Jesus’ name is higher than any other name, and that You have given me authority to use His name.  Right now, today, I trust You to bring people and events into my life so that the miraculous takes place and Jesus’ name is lifted up, in Jesus name I pray.  Amen.